Mission Week in Review - October 10-17

We are so grateful again for everyone who has partnered with us daily with your prayers, petitions and fasting! It is a great encouragement!

Except for two days of travel, we have been speaking with small groups, churches and another conference in Eastern Ukraine, as well as meeting with friends and families that we have been partnering with for many years.             

Sunday, October 10th, we finished the day with a Brother's Meeting at Dema's church. It was another one of those "one hour meetings" that lasted almost 3 hours, talking about the Holy Spirit and Hearing the Voice of God as we dream with Him for the future.

On Monday, the 11th, we had a chance to work out at a gym with our dear friend Max Kushnir and our host Gennadii Pilipenko. It was a welcome diversion  - both mentally and physically -  to the intensity of the spiritual journey. After that, we had an amazing time with the extended Pilipenko family who are all in ministries which extend from Africa to the war zone here in Ukraine. Following that time, we had a late night meeting with Gennadii's parents - Nick and Sveta - who have become very dear friends. They are in their 80's and in poor health, and have been warriors for Christ all of their lives, even through the Communist oppression. 

Tuesday, the 12th, we took a Sabbath Day. It was a blessed time of refreshment, study, prayer, writing and rest. Our only excursion that day was a 3 mile walk at lunchtime for Turkish schwarma, where we had the chance to make new friends and open a new lunch ministry to Turkish students at the local University. 

Wednesday, the 13th, we had a wonderful meeting with a family that serves Christ in everything they do. They are involved in translations, summer camps, work with college students and helping the poor. After a wonderful time together, and a pizza lunch, we walkd 100 feet to the Regional Pastor's home - Dema and Irina - to eat again! They have become very dear ministry partners and personal friends in Christ. That night, they drove us to their church's Young Adult Meeting, where they had put three groups together who normally meet for an hour from 6-7pm, early enough so they could take the metro or walk before it gets too dark. The Holy Spirit met with us in a wonderful, moving way. We couldn't finish until 8:30 - and even then, many stayed til after 9! Maybe my favorite part is all of the dialogue that goes on afterwards, but my beautiful wife was the last one to leave the building! Wherever we go, they don't want to let her go- which is really a joy for me to watch!

On our way home, I got a very upset stomach and barely made it back to the apartment! I feel like we have gone from blessing to blessing on this trip, but there have been little stickers along the way! We felt the enemy was not pleased with what was going on and had tried to cause a hindrance, but our Lord has overcome all of those - and the challenges, big and small - to keep the ministries moving ahead.

On Thursday we drove from Kharkiv to Novomoskovsk  by van to Stepan Bokoch's home. He is the senior Pastor for a region of over 100 churches. It is always a sweet reunion here with the family that we have been serving together in ministry with for about 15 years. 

On Friday, the 15th, we worked out in the morning and had time with the family to walk through the forest near their home, study, prepare and pray for time at a women's conference the next day. It was a wonderful reunion with many couples from previous conferences. I spoke on "You Can't Lead and Follow Jesus at the Same Time". Sue was invited to be a part of a women's panel to speak on their theme verse - Psalm 37:4. She did a tremendous job, giving great insight and encouragement as she always does. 

We worked on our correspondence with ministry partners here in Ukraine and Russia for the remainder of the day. More family arrived at the Bokoch's from a distant city so we could have time together in these few days in Novomoscovsk.

Sunday, today, the 17th, we are preparing for a church service and our last day in the city. We leave early tomorrow morning for a long train ride back to Kiev, to meet with our medical team and friends in the city there. Then on Wednesday, our time in Ukraine will come to an end, as we prepare to enter into the next part of the adventure that God has called us to on this Mission Trip.